Establishing a High-Density Olive Grove: Complete Guide

High-Density vs. Super-High-Density

Modern olive production in California is moving toward high-density (HD) and super-high-density (SHD) plantings that allow mechanical harvesting. Traditional olive orchards use 100 to 150 trees per acre, but SHD groves plant 600 to 900 trees per acre in hedgerow configurations. Varieties suited for SHD include Arbequina, Arbosana, and Koroneiki. HD plantings use intermediate densities of 200 to 350 trees per acre.

Trellising for SHD Olive Groves

Unlike traditional orchards, super-high-density olive groves require trellising systems similar to vineyards. This includes:

• End posts — heavy-duty steel or wooden end posts at the ends of each row, anchored with earth anchors for stability.
• T-posts — intermediate support posts every 15 to 20 feet along each row.
• Support wire — 1 to 3 wires per row at varying heights to support the hedge-style canopy and train young trees upright.
• Tree ties and clips — to secure young olive trees to the wire during the training period (first 2 to 3 years).

Irrigation & Water Planning

Drip irrigation is standard for modern olive groves. Olives are more drought-tolerant than many crops but still need 20 to 36 inches of applied water annually in California depending on location and density. Two drip emitters per tree is typical for SHD plantings. Irrigation scheduling should match evapotranspiration rates with regulated deficit irrigation commonly used to improve oil quality and manage vegetative growth.

Planting & Establishment

Olive trees for SHD planting are typically transplanted from containers (1 to 5 gallon) during late winter through spring. Row spacing is 12 to 13 feet with 4 to 5 feet between trees in-row for SHD configurations. Professional planting crews with experience in hedgerow systems ensure precise alignment, which is critical for the mechanical over-the-row harvester to operate efficiently. First harvest is typically in year 3, with full production by year 5 to 6.